How does Machiavelli’s notion of a free republic differ from the ancient conception of a good regime (as found in, e.g., Aristotle or Cicero)? What is distinctive about Machiavelli's ideas about politics in free states in comparison to ancient ideas about republics?
Instructions
Read as much of Machiavelli's Discourses as you can (especially from book I). Read also from The Prince.
Do some secondary research - read some of the articles listed below, or do your own research. The point is to get acquainted with contrasting interpretations of Machiavelli, not so much to reproduce them in your paper; you still have to argue your own view, regardless of what others say.
Select a specific thesis: what is distinctive about Machiavelli's view of republican politics is that he thinks better of the people than does Aristotle, or that he attributes goals to the rich different from those that Aristotle attributes to them, etc. Contrast Machiavelli with a specific thinker we have discussed (e.g., Aristotle or Cicero). Try to find out specific differences with Aristotle or Cicero.
Discuss evidence that supports your view as well as passages that appear to undermine it. Cite The Prince by chapter number and page number (if the latter is available), the Discourses by book, chapter, and page number (if the latter is available). Cite also passages from Aristotle or Cicero to help you make the contrast.
Berlin, Isaiah. 1971. The Question of Machiavelli. The New York Review of Books, Vol. 17, No. 7. (November 4 issue). Link.
John Langton. 1987. Machiavelli's Paradox: Trapping or Teaching the Prince. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 81, No. 4., pp. 1277-1288. Link.
Timothy J. Lukes. 2001. Lionizing Machiavelli. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 95, No. 3., pp. 561-575. Link.
Abstract: Machiavelli scholarship is prolific but claustrophobic. Even though chapter 18 of The Prince advises the aspiring leader to emulate both lion and fox, commentators ignore or devalue the lion and focus on the fox. Machiavelli is thereby depicted as a champion of cleverness and deception, and not much else. This article takes up the lion. It argues that Machiavelli's lion is not a simple and violent beast, but is rather a complex tutor that complements clinical and lonely foxiness with crucial injections of virility and community.
John Leonard. 1984. Public versus Private Claims: Machiavellianism from Another Perspective. Political Theory, Vol. 12, No. 4., pp. 491-506. Link.
Ingersoll, David E. 1968. “The Constant Prince: Private Interests and Public Goals in Machiavelli.” The Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 588-596. Link.
Skinner, Quentin. 2000. Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Library catalog.
A short introduction to Machiavelli by one of the foremost scholars of the period.
Strauss, Leo. 1958. Thoughts on Machiavelli. Glencoe, IL: The Free Press. Library catalog.
A book that argued the case for Machiavelli as a "teacher of evil." Chapter II is available as an article, "Machiavelli's Intention: The Prince," in the American Political Science Review, 51(1):13-40. Link.
Viroli, Maurizio. 1998. Machiavelli. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Library catalog.
Argues the case for a "Republican" Machiavelli, concerned with the liberty of the city and hating tyranny in all forms.
Wolin, Sheldon. Politics and Vision: Continuity and Innovation in Western Political Thought. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Chapter 7 contains an influential interpretation of Machiavelli as the originator of an idea about the "economy of violence": see here; see also Library catalog.
Table of Contents
Instructions
Resources
- Berlin, Isaiah. 1971. The Question of Machiavelli. The New York Review of Books, Vol. 17, No. 7. (November 4 issue). Link.
- John Langton. 1987. Machiavelli's Paradox: Trapping or Teaching the Prince. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 81, No. 4., pp. 1277-1288. Link.
- Timothy J. Lukes. 2001. Lionizing Machiavelli. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 95, No. 3., pp. 561-575. Link.
Abstract: Machiavelli scholarship is prolific but claustrophobic. Even though chapter 18 of The Prince advises the aspiring leader to emulate both lion and fox, commentators ignore or devalue the lion and focus on the fox. Machiavelli is thereby depicted as a champion of cleverness and deception, and not much else. This article takes up the lion. It argues that Machiavelli's lion is not a simple and violent beast, but is rather a complex tutor that complements clinical and lonely foxiness with crucial injections of virility and community.- John Leonard. 1984. Public versus Private Claims: Machiavellianism from Another Perspective. Political Theory, Vol. 12, No. 4., pp. 491-506. Link.
- Ingersoll, David E. 1968. “The Constant Prince: Private Interests and Public Goals in Machiavelli.” The Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 588-596. Link.
- Skinner, Quentin. 2000. Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Library catalog.
A short introduction to Machiavelli by one of the foremost scholars of the period.- Strauss, Leo. 1958. Thoughts on Machiavelli. Glencoe, IL: The Free Press. Library catalog.
A book that argued the case for Machiavelli as a "teacher of evil." Chapter II is available as an article, "Machiavelli's Intention: The Prince," in the American Political Science Review, 51(1):13-40. Link.- Viroli, Maurizio. 1998. Machiavelli. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Library catalog.
Argues the case for a "Republican" Machiavelli, concerned with the liberty of the city and hating tyranny in all forms.